Chinese MMA fighter Yang Jian Bing dies at the age of 21 after trying to make weight

Yang Jian Bing died on Friday, December 11, due to heart failure. He was only 21 years old.He was scheduled to compete in a One Championship event in Manila, but the fight was cancelled since Yang had to be rushed to the hospital after a sudden collapse on Thursday morning, just before his weigh-in. He was hospitalized at the San Juan De Dios Hospital in Parsay, Phillippines.That Thursday, One Championship said the fight scheduled was cancelled “due to Yang’s severe dehydration from attempting to make weight.” It is suspected that Yang suffered from a heat stroke.The CEO of One Championship, Victor Cui, said: “There is nothing more profoundly tragic and sad than when a member of the ONE Championship family, current or past, passes away. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and loved ones of Yang Jian Bing. We will work closely with the family and offer all the support they need in any way we can during this very difficult time.”

There is nothing more profoundly tragic & sad than when a member of the ONE family, current or past, passes away. https://t.co/QwiOyofber

In reaction to Yang’s death, Arvind Lalwani, an MMA coach, said: “It’s the duty of the team to check if the fighter is alright and can make weight. If you have a team which doesn’t care about the fighter and all they care about is forcing the fighter to fight and to make a weight he can’t, then these are the consequences. I don’t know what are the causes so I only can assume.”Weight-cutting in MMA has caused hospitalizations and deaths over the years. Yang’s death reminds the MMA community the dangers of weight-cutting and the need for safety protocols.By Mary DeMay[Images via One Championship]